Let me start by saying the thing that needs to be said: I am not a TikTok expert, and I don’t claim to be one.
I’m a stay-at-home mom with a business degree, about eight years of experience in affiliate marketing, and a hunch. In September 2024, I decided to run a personal experiment:
Start a brand-new TikTok account and see how quickly I could get it approved for the TikTok Shop affiliate program.
This post shares exactly what I did.
That said, this is not a promise of success or guaranteed income. Your results will depend on your content quality, consistency, and commitment. But if you want to test this strategy for yourself, these are the steps that got me approved for TikTok Shop and earning commissions.
Step 1: Create a Brand New TikTok Account
Start completely fresh.
I also recommend blocking anyone you know who could potentially find the account. This might sound extreme, but there’s a reason for it: subconscious judgment is real. Even if you don’t want to admit it, knowing people you know are watching can hold you back from posting confidently and consistently.
Step 2: Fake It ‘Til You Make It
Before you’re even eligible to monetize, start creating high-quality TikTok shop-style content.
Even though you won’t have access to TikTok Shop yet, you can still practice:
- Product demos
- “TikTok made me buy it”-style videos
- Lifestyle shots
- Before-and-after content
Use products you already own and post at least once per day. This builds confidence, consistency, and a recognizable content style — all before money is even involved.
Step 3: Use TikTok Creator Search Insights Before Posting
Before you post any video, use TikTok’s Creator Search Insights tool.
Search for a broad topic related to your product (for example, “skincare routine” if you’re sharing a skincare item). Look for:
- Related search terms
- Content gaps
- What people are actively searching for
When you’re ready to post, click the camera icon next to the search term and upload or film your video directly there. Use hashtags that match the search phrase to help TikTok categorize your content properly.
This step is huge for discoverability.
Step 4: Get to 1,000 Followers
To qualify for TikTok Shop, you need around 1,000 – 5,000 followers.
I originally reached 1,000 followers by posting good quality content consistently and using Creator Search Insights for every post. After I initially hit that 1,000 followers, the count dropped by around 200+. At that point, I wanted to get back over the minimum as quickly as possible, so I joined in on some live growth rooms – which are livestreams that encourage follow-for-follow.
Is this the best way to build a deeply engaged community? No, and many creators will tell you that. But if your immediate goal is monetization, this method works. Once you are monetized, your follower count is less important as your content is mainly pushed out to non-followers who may be interested in the products you are promoting.
You can always focus on deeper community building later or keep the account strictly for TikTok Shop content.
Step 5: Go Live As Soon As You’re Able
I can’t definitively say that going live is a requirement for TikTok Shop approval, but it definitely doesn’t hurt.
I went live as soon as I was eligible, and the very next day (at around 1,200 followers), I was accepted into the TikTok Shop creator program. You are probably wondering what I did during that first live so here you go: I shared my view through the window while a hurricane was rolling in.
Live video increases trust signals and shows TikTok that you’re actively creating.
Step 6: Start With What You Already Own
Once I was approved for TikTok Shop, I started sharing a tagging products that I already owned. It could take a while before being approved for free products from brands. You’ll be surprised how many everyday items you own are already available in the TikTok Shop marketplace. Creating content with existing products helps you:
- Start earning immediately
- Build a content library
- Increase your chances of getting sample requests approved later
I definitely think the product review content I created prior to getting into the program helped me to begin getting approved for free products a bit sooner.
Step 7: Join a UGC Network for More TikTok Shop Opportunities
After you’ve been approved and posted some TikTok Shop content, consider joining a UGC network like JoinBrands.
UGC networks allow you to:
- Apply for paid brand collaborations
- Create TikTok Shop videos for brands
- Cross-post content to your own TikTok (as long as the brand allows it)
- Earn both UGC fees and affiliate commissions
This is where TikTok Shop can start stacking income streams.
RELATED POST: UGC: Mastering Content Creation as a Profitable Home Business
My Results After 2 Months on TikTok Shop
By my second full month, I earned just under $500 in commissions, posting only 1–2 times per day.
Many creators recommend posting even more to maximize earning potential.
TikTok Shop’s affiliate program is largely about time, effort, and consistency. Top earners are making five figures per month or more because they are putting out a ton of high-quality content with strong hooks.
If you’re willing to show up consistently and treat this like a real income stream, the potential is absolutely there.
